Hipdeep Family Intro

O what a lovely set of cards,
Huge trees with lights and balls and yards
And yards of tinsel hung in loops
And little children rolling hoops
With stripy scarves behind them flapping,
While indoors cats and dogs are napping,
Stretched out on rugs before the fire.
Here's one that's definitely dire,
A lurid cromolitho is showing
Some huddled cows on whom it's snowing.
Inside there is a lengthy letter
That all's for worse and not for better.
It's from the Hipdeep family,
All victims of calamity.
If I am right from other years,
I'll read aloud - prepare for tears